Generation Next -- Iain 'TillerMaN' Girdwood

This issue’s Generation Next is a profile with a twist. Many online players, and indeed gamers, may know the name “TillerMaN” but perhaps have never heard of the man behind the name, Iain Girdwood. Born and living in Glasgow, Scotland, the 33-year-old has flown under the radar for long enough. Over the past six years or so, Girdwood has been tearing up the virtual felt and making a nice living. He speaks to Card Player candidly about his experiences and his hopes for the future.

Rebecca McAdam: First of all, where does your name come from?

Iain Girdwood: It was taken from the album Tea for the Tillerman by Cat Stevens. I then used it as my pro gaming nickname when I played games professionally like Starcraft and Warcraft. Then it stuck with me for poker, just like ElkY [Bertrand Grospellier].

RM: How did you get into those games?

IG: I was into games when I was younger, then had a long break between 16 and 21. Then I got my first pc\modem and got addicted to competitive gaming. I found out I was really good at it, so did it for a long time.

RM: I heard that you were world champion of Warcraft.

IG: I’d say for the first year of Warcraft III I was the best. I won many tournaments in that game and was probably one of the most famous Warcraft III players for a while.

RM: And you played with some people who are now pro poker players?

IG: Yes, lots. The obvious one is ElkY. We played Starcraft/Broodwar together a few times.

RM: Who was better?

IG: He wasn’t really into Warcraft. That game span a long period of time, 5-6 years, he didn’t play it when I was at my peak. Broodwar is an expansion pack to starcraft, same game really with extras. Warcraft III came out and I took that up pro style, and he continued playing Broodwar. We just peaked at different times. He was the most successful at Broodwar\Starcraft for sure, but I had quit that game when he was still playing it professionally. Anyway, we have met a few times. We know of each other well.

RM: Why do you think so many games players become poker players?

IG: I think it makes perfect sense for a number of reasons. They require the same insane obsessive drive if you want to be amongst the best. Pro-gaming generally pays very little. However, if you are a similar standard at poker, the rewards you can reap are absolutely massive in comparison.

RM: Other than drive, what skills do you think you brought to poker after pro gaming for years?

IG: To be able to sit in an office chair with no daylight for 12 hours in a row would be one (laughs). Multitasking is a real one. Able to think fast, make quick decisions thus be able to play more tables, increasing income etc… And very accurate mouse movements, not much misclicking.

RM: When did u realise you could be successful at poker as well?

IG: After the 2003 World Cyber Games in Seoul Korea. Just before then a pro gamer friend of mine had introduced me to poker and I had messed a little with it here and there but nothing serious. After those games I never played Warcraft III again. I put all my effort into poker and it was pretty obvious within a couple of months I was going to make a lot. And since I was poor, no job, I had lots of motivation too. I started off at the lowest limits and was at $600 NL (the biggest game on the Internet at the time) within six months, and I paid off my mum’s mortgage.

RM: How did u move up the levels so fast? Do you think it would be more difficult to do so nowadays?

IG: I really have no idea, seems impossible now when I speak to all my poker playing friends who are stuck at small limits after four years and stuff. I think it was a combination of weaker games plus insane playing hours. I probably played 300 plus hours the first few months and then consistently 200 plus hours for at least a year after. I can barely do 30 hours a month now.

RM: But you still do it as you only source of income?

IG: Yes.

RM: Do you play the other games now at all?

IG: No, I completely gave them up entirely. Not even for fun. My main reason is I don’t find sucking at games I was once amongst the best at fun.

RM: What’s your main game in poker then?

IG: At the moment for the last few months it has either been a lot of tables of grinding $500 plus ten tables plus, or 3-4 tables of heads-up no-limit, or a mixture of heads up and six-max, or 1-2 tables of high-limit. I also mix in Omaha sporadically in there — heads up or six-Max.

RM: What sites do you play on?

IG: Mostly European sites but I have played significant amounts of time at all the big ones too. My entire first year was played at PokerStars for example.

RM: Do u play much live?

IG: No. I’m going to Vegas in July. I will play some events there, but I’m not going for poker really. Just for fun.

RM: Why don’t you play live?

IG: I don’t like the live game atmosphere in a place like Glasgow. Also, games are small compared to what I play online so I can only do it for fun. Most people I would want to play live with don’t live in Glasgow. If I was living in London or Vegas I would play way more live.

RM: Would sponsorship be something you’re interested in?

IG: It’s not something I’m that concerned about but if the right situation arose I might be.

RM: If you had to name one player you respect live/online, who would it be?

IG: Wow, I played so many people, I could list off really good players for three hours. One player who is a good friend of mine I respect a lot is a player called Kirderf. It’s Fredrik backwards. Fredrik Ostervold from Norway. He is an ex-gamer too, champion in the game of Broodwar. And he is probably one of the biggest unknown winners in the world online. I’d be surprised if anyone had made as much as him in the past five years mid-high stakes.

RM: What was the biggest pot you’ve ever taken down?

IG: I think it was around $62,000.

RM: What do you think about pros going up against each other, like in the high stakes games or with Durrrr and his challenge?

IG: They just have massive massive egos and obviously a very competitive drive. I’m not as against it as I should be but I have a big competitive streak in me too. I sometimes play very tough games or heads up versus very tough opponents just because I feel like it. But it’s not the best way to make money. I understand why they do it perfectly though.

RM: Do you have any poker ambitions?

IG: To make enough to never have to play again.

RM: So you’re not after a title or a bracelet really?

IG: Sometimes I think I want that, but most of the time, no. I will play at least one or two bracelet events in July but I’m not actively pursuing it. It would be great I guess. The most exciting moments in poker for me have been stuff like final tables of tournaments or insanely high cash games heads up, so in that respect, yes I want it. I’m just a bit more cynical about poker than most people you will interview that’s all.

RM: If you could give advice to someone starting out who thinks they could make it online and wants to be a pro what would you say?

IG: I honestly don’t encourage people to start poker anymore, Id explain how tough it is these days, how they need an almost perfect poker character to truly succeed in any meaningful way, and the likely outcome of their endeavors is brutal failure.

RM: What is the worst poker advice you’ve been given?

IG: The worst advice/book is Professional No-Limit Hold’em: Volume I by Ed Miller, Sunny Metha, and Matt Flynn. It’s the biggest joke book ever — so many flaws and errors throughout.

RM: Do you read a lot of books/forums on poker?

IG: I have read a lot of books on poker, a lot! I don’t partake in forum discussions much but I have read a lot. I think you occasionally find one or two things in most good poker books, maybe a paragraph here or there, but it can help. You gotta be able to sift through the shit though!